From the cushy environ to the uncertainty of political front the emergence of youth power in the Assembly elections is the changing face of political arena Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing. Youth has got 33 seats out of 46 is the indicator that young professionals, women are not averse to jumping into the political bandwagon to bring in some change to the society. In the race is a lawyer, a dentist, MNC banker, a software engineer, an Urdu scholar and a poet. All of them have concern over the growing unemployment, poor education set up, lack of medical facilities, poor development and the growing corruption which could have been the factors forcing these young people to take plunge in the political arena. The other change which is blatantly visible is the emergence of women contestants led by Drakshan Andrabi, who dissolved her Socialist Democratic Party and merged with BJP, Hina Bhat a dentist by profession and Neelam Gash a software engineer who left her job in New Delhi; they along with their supporters are pushing for and motivating people to vote for the change. The youngsters of the State want to see the change coming in. They want to see these realities taking shape and not confined to hollow promises and sloganeering. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s appeal to youth largely propelled National Conference to power in 2008. And failure of his government to reach out to people during the recent floods could be one reason why there is alienation and resentment. Most of the first time contestants want to change the Badshahi Khandani politics to a realistic one. With all these ground conditions prevailing Bharatiya Janata Party gaining even a single seat in Valley will make history. They are risking their lives. In Jammu the situation is entirely different there is no such awakening among the youth and few those who are in the game hardly have been able to make any connect with the voters. The political divide is very much visible and this the root cause of the entire malady the region is facing today. There is a need to create an awakening among the youth in the region to usher in change and stand for their rights.
